Enjoying the Gift They Didn’t Want

Enjoying the Gift They Didn’t Want

Originally published March 2016

In the area where
Gospel for Asia-supported pastor Nandin ministers, people depended on water from rivers, canals and ponds. During the rainy season, the filthy water
from these water sources often infected people with serious illnesses such as typhoid, dysentery and malaria. In other parts of this region, people
have even died from these diseases because there are no nearby hospitals for treatment.

As Pastor Nandin tried to make sure the drilling of a Jesus Well went smoothly, angry
villagers surrounded him.

Wanting to improve people’s lives, Pastor Nandin requested a Jesus Well in a village where he was serving. The request was quickly
approved, and within a few weeks, Pastor Nandin’s regional leader, Pastor Hammad, came to the village to inaugurate the drilling of the Jesus Well.

But instead of being welcomed with open arms, Pastor Nandin’s attempt to help the villagers turned suddenly awry. Soon, he found
himself confronted by a crowd of angry villagers.

Originally published March 2016

As Pastor Nandin tried to make sure the drilling of a Jesus Well went smoothly, angry villagers surrounded him.

Community Lacks Interest in Good News

Even though the villagers direly needed this gift—something necessary to their health and wellbeing—they rejected Pastor Nandin’s attempt to
help give them clean water.

They had rejected every gift he had tried to offer them—especially the most precious gift found in Jesus’ hope, peace and eternal life.
When Pastor Nandin or other believers would offer literature sharing the Good News of Jesus, most people wouldn’t take it.

People in the area where Pastor Nandin serves suffered from serious illnesses, such as typhoid and malaria,
because they got their water from ponds. At the same time, they weren’t interested in the message of hope Pastor Nandin could share.

Opposition Nearly Halts Drilling of Well

Despite the people’s lack of interest in hearing about Christ’s love, Nandin’s heart still ached with genuine concern for them and their health.

Soon after workers began drilling the Jesus Well that Pastor Nandin had requested, trouble boiled over. It began with one person tossing away the workers’
buckets. Then another person damaged the casing pipes. When Pastor Nandin asked them to stop, he and the believers suddenly found themselves confronted by a mob
of 20 people.

In the span of about three hours, angry villagers hit Pastor Nandin and two believers, and when other people, including Pastor Hammad and a community
leader, tried to calm the situation, members of the mob struck them too.

The next day, Pastor Nandin, Pastor Hammad and the local believers joined together to ask the Lord for His protection. They continued praying daily,
and after 15 days, they saw God answer by showing them favor, from the village chief.

People in the area where Pastor Nandin serves suffered from serious illnesses, such as typhoid
and malaria, because they got their water from ponds. At the same time, they weren’t interested in the message of hope Pastor Nandin could share.

After workers began drilling the Jesus Well, a group of hostile villagers tried to stop the well and assaulted Pastor Nandin and a few other people trying to keep the peace. The believers prayed for 15 days, and the Lord showed them favor, allowing them to finish drilling the Jesus Well.

After workers began drilling the Jesus Well, a group of hostile villagers tried to stop the well and assaulted Pastor Nandin and a few other people trying to keep the peace. The believers prayed for 15 days, and the Lord showed them favor, allowing them to finish drilling the Jesus Well.

“I will help you to complete the remaining work of this Jesus Well,” he told the believers, “and if someone will oppose you in
this work, I will put him in jail without delay.”

Within a few days, the workers were able to finish drilling the Jesus Well with no more hindrances.

Once-Hostile Villagers Enjoy Clean Water, Learn About Christ

Now, as the villagers draw pure water from the well for their families’ needs, many are recovering from waterborne illnesses! Even those who opposed the
Jesus Well and harassed Pastor Nandin and the believers in order to stop it from being drilled are now using the well.

As people see the good that’s come from the Jesus Well they had tried to oppose, they are now more curious about what Pastor Nandin has to say. Fourteen
people from a neighboring village have also decided to start attending Pastor Nandin’s church for Sunday worship services, prayer meetings and other
activities.

Christ’s love and hope have even transformed the life of Shami, the brother of one of the men who tried to stop the Jesus Well.

For three years, Shami had struggled to get a good night’s sleep. He and his wife asked Pastor Hammad to pray for him, and the pastor began visiting
Shami and his wife regularly to pray and encourage them with words from Scripture.

In His mercy, God healed Shami, enabling him to sleep well at night. Shami and his wife entrusted their lives to Christ. Now they and their teenage
daughter are attending Sunday services.

After workers began drilling the Jesus Well, a group of hostile villagers tried to stop the well and assaulted Pastor Nandin and a few other people trying to keep the peace. The believers prayed for 15 days, and the Lord showed them favor, allowing them to finish drilling the Jesus Well.

Now the people in Pastor Nandin’s village—even those who once opposed the Jesus Well—are daily drawing clean water from the Jesus Well. Many are recovering from waterborne illnesses, and they are becoming more interested in the Lord.

Now the people in Pastor Nandin’s village—even those who once opposed the Jesus Well—are daily drawing clean water from the Jesus Well. Many are recovering from waterborne illnesses, and they are becoming more interested in the Lord.

Through the compassion of a pastor and the provision of a Jesus Well, God is showing people in this community how much He loves them. Now they are grateful for the gift and the message they once scorned.

You can share the hope of Christ with more lives by helping to provide clean water in communities that desperately need it.

Now the people in Pastor Nandin’s village—even those who once opposed the Jesus Well—are daily drawing clean water from the Jesus Well. Many are recovering from waterborne illnesses, and they are becoming more interested in the Lord.

Give toward Jesus Wells.

You can provide a Jesus Well for an entire community for $1,400.

$700

$1400

$4200

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Originally published March 2016

*Names of people and places may have been changed for privacy and security reasons. Images are GFA stock photos used for representation purposes and are not the actual person/location, unless otherwise noted.